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Neighbourhood Views of India
In the past few years, the SAARC region has seen promising engagements in mutual cooperation between nations. For these developments to hold, new ideas must be discussed
Courtesy: wallygrom/Flickr
The Maldives: Geopolitics trumps geoeconomics
The move by the Maldives to renege on Bangalore-based GMR’s $500 million investment is a classic case of geopolitics trumping geoeconomics. This is an appropriate time for India to boost its diplomatic efforts by including the Ministry of Commerce in initiatives taken by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Courtesy: Swami Stream/Flickr
Mumbai, after 26/11
Four years after the 26/11 terrorist attacks, Mumbai remains almost as vulnerable. The city is losing its expansiveness, while terrorism drives a wedge between the Hindu and Muslim communities in bindaas Mumbai. Are India’s secular traditions strong enough to emerge from such assaults with its integrity assured?
Courtesy: Imran Ghazali/WikimediaCommons
Imran Khan’s India equation
Imran Khan is coming to India to speak at the World Economic Forum to be held from 6 to 8 November in Gurgaon. What does Pakistan’s potential next prime minister have in store for India?
Courtesy: Isafmedia/Flickr
Afghanistan: Strategic depth to strategic peace
As the NATO troops prepare to pull out of Afghanistan in 2014, India is already positioned to take on a larger, pro-active role, which can radically alter the balance of power in South Asia. However, what will determine the future of security in the region, is how India and Afghanistan deal with Pakistan.
Courtesy: Guilhem Vellut/WikimediaCommons
Siachen: To hold or to fold?
There have been many discussions on the need to de-militarise the Siachen Glacier. Why have India and Pakistan suddenly begun to believe that they were mistaken in holding on to the region all this while? What are the possible ramifications of de-militarising this strategic location?
Courtesy: VOA/WikimediaCommons
Romney vs. Obama on U.S. supremacy
In a recent speech, U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney criticised incumbent President Barack Obama's foreign policies, and called for U.S. supremacy. However, it seems apparent that Romney wouldn’t usher in a foreign policy revolution if elected.
Courtesy: PMO
Mending India-Sri Lanka relations
It is evident that Tamil Nadu plays a large role in shaping India’s policy towards Sri Lanka. The recent visit to India by Sri Lanka’s President, coming promptly after aggressive rhetoric from Tamil Nadu, is yet another sign that foreign affairs cannot be outsourced to regional or state governments.
Courtesy: Cropbot, Russavia/WikimediaCommons
Advantage: Pakistan
Manmohan Singh is likely to visit Pakistan later this year. As the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 8 years, it will be a significant event. The timing and the agenda of the PM’s visit, however, raise a few questions.
Courtesy: Mission Against Corruption/Wikimedia Commons
Regenerating our democracy
The promise of an egalitarian democratic system in India and abroad, has been tarnished by the entrenchment of dynastic leadership and by an inordinate concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few. It is imperative to find ways to confront the shortcomings that have crept into our cherished democracies.